2013 Lexus GS 350 F Sport

Welcome to the Dark Side

Ron Kiino and I were staring at the 2013 Lexus GS 350 F Sport's ferocious "spindle grille" snout prior to its test session at the track, and after a silence, he said in a James Earl Jones baritone: "Luke" -- followed by a heaving exhalation -- "I am your father." That sizzling sound you hear is the F Sport/Lord Vader association being branded onto my brain. No matter what else I might say about this car -- such that its recalibrated 3.5-liter engine offers better mileage, its suspension has been completely overhauled, and there's available active rear steering, adjustable shocks and 0.91 g's of grip -- it's all overshadowed by that menacing mug. Why didn't its grille remind Ron of elegantly folded origami?

The problem is that when a car starts out with a Darth Vader face, what follows it better be able to swing a pretty good lightsaber. And the density of visual misanthropy that follows in this case rapidly dwindles until, by the car's stern, it's as innocent-looking as a Camry. Dynamically, the F Sport -- a package of primarily handling and appearance enhancements -- is a lot more consistent, however.While the fright mask suggests it's looking to quarrel with a BMW M5, its appropriate eye-to-eye opponent would be the duller-fanged, 300-hp 535i. The GS's upgraded 303-hp engine and paddle-shift six-speed transmission are carried into the F Sport largely unaltered, providing 0-60-mph dashes in 5.5 seconds and delivering 19 city mpg and 28 highway (the latter number is up from 26 mpg).

Five-point-five seconds is brisk. But not sizzling. Trust me, though, that this is one of those rev-oriented mills that makes a much better impression on the road than at the dragstrip, despite the absence of a de rigueur seventh gear cog. However, where the GS 350 F Sport really, really clicks is when the asphalt bends. Turn-in is very precise (thank you, rear steer), its stance is firm (particularly in the 'Sport+' suspension setting, though its ride is a bit shaky on the straights), and there's a nice little drift available if you press matters exiting the corner.
Active rear-steering is a rare technological bird, and like its sporadically appearing predecessors, this vehicle aims its rear wheels oppositely than its fronts at lower speeds (here, 50 mph) for sharper cornering, while slightly mirroring the front wheels at higher speeds for increased stability. Lexus says the rear's maximum angle is 2 degrees; we say it's a well-implemented solution, offering noticeable agility without the handling fishiness these things can sometimes invoke. Yet, even without the system (it's an F Sport option), the GS' handling game has clearly been elevated. Both the front and rear tracks have been broadened by about 2 inches; the rear suspension is an all-new multilink affair; larger bushings are employed up front; and the entire suspension is aluminum, lowering unsprung weight. The F Sport package takes this goodness even further with fatter anti-roll bars, stiffer springs, variable-ratio steering, bigger brakes clamped by more aggressive pads, and staggered 19-inch tire sizes - 235/40s up front and 265/35s in back. There's also that variable damping (Sport+ being its apex of aggression), which locks down the car's body motions, though the jiggly ride that ensues is enough to reserve the switch for sporadic amusement only. Sport+ also dials up the throttle's response, but that's completely overwhelmed by its teeth-gritting chassis dynamics. (Have I mentioned the ride enough?)

Other GS 350 pleasantries include its thin, vision-enhancing A-pillars, its rich interior surfaces (ours was detailed with brush aluminum), and a giant, high-resolution 12.3-inch display screen. Because of the screen's extraordinary width, there's enough real estate to show multiple things at once. It typically displays a navigation map on a large portion, and either sound system or climate control info on a smaller one. It's awfully nice not having to flip between screens as is necessary with smaller, conventionally sized units, and its resolution is absolutely crystalline. Beautiful, in fact. Mark my words, in-dash car displays are heading the way of America's living room TVs -- they're going BIG SIZE and HI RES. Another gold star goes to the very supportive seats, which provide a mesmerizing 12 means of adjustment (heavens, a Porsche GT3's seatback can't be raked at all).Is there a dark side, Luke? No. But maybe some shades of grey. While the F Sport's variable-rate steering enables X-Acto-knife handling sharpness, its light-effort weighting seems mismatched with the F Sport's seriousness and scale. Beefy, menacing car; light, delicate steering. It's like Claude Van Damme with Truman Capote's voice.Climb into the backseat and you'll find plenty of headroom. Nevertheless, your knees wind up high and your butt low, and worse, the GS' tall, rear-wheel-drive center hump effectively renders it a four-seater, unless your fifth passenger is Yoda-sized. And although the trunk space theoretically has been expanded by 25 percent to a promising 14.3 cubic feet, don't image it as some simple, rectangular cavity. It's badly violated by that wonderful rear suspension, and most effectively filled with lots of smaller suitcases.But let's walk back to the front end of in car. Behind the grille of the GS 350 F Sport -- after you remove the scary Darth Vader mask -- is a reality its wearer would prefer not to reveal. Darth Vader was Luke Skywalker's father. This F Sport is a large Lexus sedan claiming to burn up backroads like a 5 Series BMW. It does a remarkably good job of it. But it also asks buyers who are naturally in the BMW camp to write a Lexus check. That may not be so easy.

I just traded in my 08' GS350 for a 2013. I was hesitant because the 08" was such a good car and never had a mechanical problem. I must say that the driving manners and luxury of the 2013 have been tremendously improved. If it gives me the problem-free driving of the 08' I will be very pleased. About the spindle grille; I got the regular GS instead of the F-Sport because of the grille. The same basic car and I have actually gotten to like the grille.

I turn cars over every two years. Caddy STS, CTS and Infiniti G37 have been recent vehicles. Leased a GS 350 six weeks ago and can't say enough good things about the ride, handling and quiet cabin. STS was a 6 out of 10. CTS had a great ride with the magnetic ride control suspension but the seats were horrible so a 7 out of 10. The G37 sedan had an excellent powertrain, throaty v6 but was cramped and had a noisy cabin. Rating, a 7 out of 10.

The GS has it all. Almost. Great ride, handling and powertrain. At highway speed you glide down the highway like you are on a melting stick of butter. Got 27MPG on an 1100 mile highway drive. Seats are awesome, cabin is made of great materials and standard sound system is very good. My only complaint is the command center "mouse and menu" that you use to navigate thru the selection screens for NAV, music and a host of interior control features is far to complicated ... and I consider myself to be above average as far as handling technology goes. For example you have to drill down thru 4 menus to get to the simple controls for bass, midrange and treble controls. Listen up Lexus... great car... 9 out of 10... but sometimes simple buttons and knobs are the way to go.

Yammer Yammer Yammer. Opinion Opinion Opinion. Look people, you will buy the cars that you like based upon your preferences and what appeals to you. It's like your preference of women. Some like asian women while some prefer white or black women. Pick what suits you.I personally loved the GS when I test drove it and the aggressive styling suits my personality. ALA I think it looks beautiful inside and out. I plan on writing a deposit for mine this week. My previous car was a 1994 SC400 in which I put 277000 miles on it until it was stolen out of my driveway. Test drive the cars in your class preference and give it an honest opinion for your own sake. Happy Trails and happy shopping.

For background; current vehicles are a 540i BMW and a Cayman S. & I'm a former Formula Ford racer. BMW is my 3rd in a row. Was getting ready to buy my 4th BMW and was closing in on a 535. Decided to check out the GS F Type. Drove both back to back extensively. Just wrote a deposit for the GS. Do not like the changes they have made to the BMW, especially the heavy, distant handling. Also don't like the extensive service expense the BMW has had the minute the warranty expired (tranny, head gaskets, AC system leaks, the dreaded cooling rail, computer rebuilt/replaced 2x, etc.) Felt like I was putting the BMW dealer's kid through college. Friends who own them said Lexus' are bullet proof. We'll see.

Saw the car in person and was taken aback immediately! Not a good looking car from the front! The salesperson called it a spindle grid and I had to laugh. He said that all the new Lexuses will have that grid design. LOL!

A whole lot of people seem to delight in clearly associating Lexus with Toyota, but they don't seem to worry about Audi by Volkswagen, or Cadillac with Chevrolet/GM, or Volvo with Geely Holdings (China), or Rolls Royce by BMW, or Chrysler with Fiat (and the UAW). Quite frankly, if a mainstream manufacturer stands behind my luxury car, I'd rather Toyota than any other.

Ha, I would scoff at that last sentence the motortrend editors. I was a previous 2011 BMW 535i owner and was disappointed with the BMW after 1 year ownership due to its boring and numb ride/handling feel. Ride was choppy on highways. It felt isolating and did not have a soul. My BMW 3 coupe is much better. I traded it in for a 2013 Lexus GS350 F-Sport!!! I was so impressed with the handling, road feel, comfort, technology including adaptive suspension, styling, and excitement of the car that I bought it and do not miss my 2011 BMW 5. The GS feels more fluid overall and Lexus has done its homework. It is winning customers like me and others. One person traded in Jaguar XF, another traded in a 2011 BMW 5 like me and another traded in a Porsche Panamera for this. All those cars are on the used car lot at the Lexus dealer. Its simply the best sports sedan in the category with A6 being next. BMW 5 is now a distant 3rd. It looks perfect and gets alot of comments and stares!

Sorry, it isn't attractive. It might be a good car, but that really doesn't matter when everyday you have to look at it as you walk toward it. It's like being with a nice girl who isn't great looking. Sure she is fun, and sweet, smart, and a girl you can show your Mom, but everytime you're in bed with her you start to dream of something prettier.

And I agree about the Genesis. It is 'almost but not quite' in the company of this class. It may have all the right stuff on paper but in reality it just comes up short in terms of build/material quality, fit & finish, and overall refinement.I suppose you do get what you pay for though.

I much prefer the A6 3.0T to this car. It is better in every possible way;- Faster- Better gas mileage- Quattro AWD- More features/tech- MUCH nicer interior- MUCH better looking exterior- And for similar moneyThe GS is now the next best thing, previously the worst, but the A6 still gets my vote.

carloverguy772,I went car shopping with a friend two weeks ago. We test drove the Genesis 5.0 R spec. It did not feel like it had anything like 429 hp, but more importantly there was nothing particularly luxurious or high quality about it. Attention to detail was non-existent. The dealer was very nice, but the car was completely unacceptable. I couldn't even sit in the back seat without my head brushing the roof, which is odd for such a large car. My friend wound up leasing an Audi A6, which was about 8K more expensive, but left no questions about where the money went. Based on the interior, the infotainment toys, the ride, and things like the finish of the trunk, you'd think the Audi cost twice as much. Thanks to stronger residuals, I believe the actual price difference over 3 years worked out to $3,000. That being said, had the new GS been available, we'd have looked at it.

That's not a bad-looking Lexus at all. Though for its size, price point, and F moniker, I think that it should have a few more ponies. Lexus really only has two cars that crack the 5-second mark (IS F and LFA). I don't see any shame in adding a third...

well it definately looks better than a 5 series imo. 0-60 in 5.5 is amazing for this car no matter how the reviewer tries to down play it. i guess if you can't ind anything wrong with it, attack the seats!

Just had Lexus send me the new Lexus GS Super Bowl ad (they swore me to secrecy, can't repost it).Solid ad, with a nice teaser at the end. Well done. GS ads tend to be on the aggressive side, and this is no exception.Definitely better than the Audi Vampires spot for the Super Bowl. Unless you've seen every Twilight movie, it doesn't have much value......BD

@GmLexusH_Kcompliant ride means more controllable ride not more comfortable. it means it handles better now. I don't know when a "civilized" ride (what you quoted) meant "the epitone of ride comfort and isolation." civilized ride is used to describe a ride in the middle; not too harsh but not too comfortable.

The 535i is an excellent sedan, and it offers a manual transmission, which is epic.But MT has stated, on these every pages, in video, that it is losing it's edge with every new generation. It's getting soft around the edges, gaining weight, and doesn't have the handling feel it used to.MT said it seems to be heading towards Lexus in ride, and is giving away it's legendary handling feel. Look up any video on the 535i when it was released, either here, or on YouTubeLexus smells blood in the water, and gives you an adjustable suspension for either ride compliance, maximum handling, or a blend of the two.BD

PS: You were off on the pricing of the cars in this segment. A6 starts around $42k as does the CTS 3.6. The GS and M are around $47k. The CTS starts at $37k but that's with the weak 3L engine so Im not even including that car in the discussion. The reality is in spite of all the "tweener" hype the CTS is within 2" of every dimension of every midsize luxury car you talked about. It has a longer wheelbase and more length than the GS we're discussing here.Oh and lets not forget the $50k E350 has less hp and similar curb weight to the CTS. Id estimate 0-60 that car would be in the high 5 sec range.

gmlexus:I never said I was a fan of the 535, its way overpriced. And you're right, a Regal GS with FWD can put up figure 8 numbers similar to all of these much pricier RWD luxury sedans. Im not sure what makes you think I find the A6 or 535 far superior to the GS. All of the cars are full of performance and features so it really comes down to styling. That's where the GS (like many Japanese luxury cars) comes up short. I am not a fan of the M either. If you remove the controversial grille the new GS barely looks different than the 6 year old outgoing model. With regards to the CTS its important to remember that a CTS 3.6 is priced like a 528i or A6 2.0T. So in reality its not slower than comparably priced midsize german cars. Only the GS/M are faster STANDARD. But of course the GS starts about $5k over a CTS 3.6.

"Up front, aluminum control arms and knuckles lighten up the suspension, while the rear springs and shocks are now separate, which opens up more trunk space. It doesn't take long to realize that the ride of the GS seems more elastic and compliant than before. Even the F Sport version, with its stiffer suspension and 19-inch wheels, is civilized."It's a Lexus dude the epitone of ride comfort and isolation. The new GS retains all of its comfort from the previous model. I find it funny you are basing your words on MT having the GS in its most performance oriented setting.

@BDGS ain't ----The GS has nothing to do with the CTS. see? I can write such strong arguments like yours.@GmLexusH_KI doubt this has better backseat ingress/egress but I don't know for sure since I've never tried this car and I'm assuming you haven't either but for argument's sake, let's assume the GS has better ingress/egress. It's easier to get in the GS backseat but you'll have more room in the CTS. happy?How do you know the CTS doesn't have a better ride? have you driven this? You can't take reviews too seriously but you can compare them. I can't remember a review where someone complained about the CTS's ride. different story here.

The rear quarters of the GS are where the differences are. the CTS rear is cramped with bad ingress/egress.Yes from day one the CTS has been a handling star which is why it continues to win C&Ds top 10 but as far as acceleration this porker is slower then everything in the class.(comparing to other midsize RWD luxury cars not compact RWD luxury cars)The car is a tweener model and when the 2nd gen first came out it was compared to the compact segment which is where price paid most of the dividends. At $35k base price it is already $12k lower than the base price of the GS, A6 2.0T, 528i and M37. The ATS will fill the role once given to the CTS and the next gen CTS will see prices similar to the cars mentioned. The CTS still does not have a more comfortable ride you are taking the words in this review way too seriously.

how can the GS has "in essence" more interior room than the CTS when it has less? The interior dimensions I posted are for the current GS (not the outgoing one) and they are all less than the CTS except for rear headroom and legroom which are only 0.4 inches more in the GS. I don't know how you can say it's more space efficient with a larger trunk when they said the trunk space isn't as usable because of the rear suspnesion. Don't really know how the CTS "can't help" but be $10k less expensive when it offers a better ride, more interior space and almost matches the performance despite the GS weight and stiff suspension advantages.and according to MT tests, the 2007-2011 V8 GS got to 60 in 5.6 not the V6 model.edit: I've just seen that both the V6 and V8 2007-2011 GS got to 60 in 5.6 s. I guess the V8 was pointless really..

Lets see here; comparable equipment to Ze Germans, equivalent or greater horsepower, better fuel economy, better reliability (get real; german wiring is garbage), cheaper and fantastic handling. MT has long been shoved up BMW's butt; Im glad to see that theyre being fairly objective with the new GS. And to all those who claim "its too ugly" or "itll never compete with the germans"- well in your mind Lexus was never a factor so of course it wont compete. Youre too biased, Ive owned BMWs, Mercs and Audis. I havent owned a lexus but I have driven them. This new GS is definitely (in my opinion) better than the 5 or E class. So Ill be happy driving it while you are getting your Bimmer repaired. Believe me, parts on those things are ludicrously overpriced- even if you do the work yourself.

syj:yes its 98 cu in not 109 so my mistake on that. But the old 2007-2011 GS350 was running 5.6 sec 0-60 runs while the CTS was still at 6.5 sec and not much has changed.I know the new CTS comes out for 2013 and hopefully can drop atleast 200 lbs with the new Alpha platform. I would expect it to also be about as big as the 5-series which is now huge.The new GS is more space efficient with larger trunk and overall greater interior space but the front legroom is a little less. I will point out that the GS current and new has more front and rear leg room than the new 5-series.And that's funny because the Regal GS is about $30k cheaper than the 535i and A6 but still puts up similar numbers you speak of so why not compare them?As far as a loaded CTS I'm pretty sure a load 2013 GS350 is about $10k higher because until the next CTS it can't help but be cheaper.

gmlexus:for whatever reason Lexus' press release doesn't mention interior passenger volume for the 2013. Maybe that's because it has less than the old car. CTS did 0-60 in 6.2secs in C&D's last test. Based on its weight disadvtantage that's not surprising. I also wouldnt presume that the GS is more agile, its braking and skidpad and figure 8 numbers are very close to the CTS. For reference, this car's figure 8 is only .2 secs better than a FWD regal GS which costs $20k less. Also, a loaded RWD CTS is about $5k less than this car- before incentives.

There is no way this car has 109 cu ft of PASSENGER volume. Maybe total volume, but not passenger volume. That would make this car as spacious as the Avalon inside. Glad someone pointed out correct acceleration on the CTS- the last C&D test clocked it at 6.2 secs. Slower than this car, but not my much. Then again, the CTS is on its 5th year so Im glad Lexus could make a better car. Too bad it doesn't look better. Also too bad that a new CTS comes out in 2013. The E class is so ugly that I would probably take the GS over the Benz. But the GS isn't better looking than the A6 which is the problem. This will please people who only buy Japanese like BD, but I dont think it will sway German car owners.

"Ugly front, boring back, high price and low performance....and who wants a high/fast revving luxury sedan? Not many I'd bet. Toyota does it again with a boring, over price lackl luster flub. bravo"With a redline at 6600 rpm this has a much lower redline than the M37(7500 rpm), 535i(7000 rpm), A6 3.0T(7000 rpm) so I don't know where you get your information from. And with an as tested price of $56k it certainly isn't expensive as the near $71k A6 and $67k 535i.

Not only is the CTS coupe lighter at 4039 lbs than the CTS sedan it is also geared differently so it is pointless to compare it to the GS350. 0-60 in 6.4 sec according to C&D and it is still nearly a second behind the GS. And my bad my sources said that the current GS had 109.1 cu in of interior space when it actually does match the CTS in interior space but the new GS has a significant increase in interior space over the outgoing one. So in essence it now has more interior space than the CTS but is still 200 lbs lighter, more agile, more comfortable and more spacious. The CTS is not a bad car by any means and can hold it's own but only the next gen CTS will be comparable to this new GS.

Ugly front, boring back, high price and low performance....and who wants a high/fast revving luxury sedan? Not many I'd bet. Toyota does it again with a boring, over price lackl luster flub. bravo (the "b" not "B" on purpose)

The quote that comes to my mind is from "Predator" when Ah-nold sees the creature up close and says "you are one ugly mother f---er" !! I think it's admirable that this GS 350 is now as powerful and quick as the '98 GS400, and I am sure the cabin is epic, but that mug has got to go !!

nice car, but prepare to be 08 WRX'd. The carry over v6 engine and 6 spd trans means that you'll be able to get an updated 315+hp 8 spd trans version that does 0-60 in 5.2 sec in 2 or 3 years for the same money

Em, I recently drove an Infiniti G37 sedan, and I have to say that for an entry-level luxury sedan, I was thoroughly impressed; not only would it spank this car in a race, it has comparable amenities for 20k less :)

SWEET car !I love this car. Inside and out its a sight to see. I cant wait to see how this bad boy looks with some nice wheels and a lower suspension.I feel MotorTrend trys to down play this car in some of the comments they make about it. This is a excellent car that does almost everything right plus it will be more reliable then the rest in its class.

@BDI don't know if the LFA has reached their sales goals by now but it was on pretty much every magazine that the LFA sales were disappointing. no one can deny that except a biased troll like you.i'm not saying sales numbers are meaningless but a higher sales volume doesn't mean a superior car. if you don't agree, get your head checked.